Accessory clamp



M. R. REVZIN ACCESSORY CLAMP July 28, 1959 Filed Jan. 28, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTO EY July 28, 1959 M. R. REVZIN ACCESSORYCLAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jalfl. 28, 1955 ACCESSORY CLAMP Milton R.Revzin, Youngstown, Ohio Application January 28, 1955, Serial No.484,807

1 Claim. (Cl. 248229) The present invention relates to clamps and thelike, and more particularlyto a portable clamp assembly for attachinglamps and other accessories to fixed objects, such as Workbenches,tables, etc.

As an overall object, the present invention seeks to provide a novel andimproved portable clamp assembly which is economical to manufacture,light in weight, and operative in an improved and efiicient manner toattach such accessories as reading or flood lamps, photographicequipment and the like to fixed or stable objects of irregular size andshape, such as tables, chairs, workbenches, desks, and similar articlesgenerally found about the home, office or workshop.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide animproved C-type clamp having primary and secondary pressure applyingmeans thereon whereby great clamping pressures may be applied withlittle effort upon the part of the operator. In this respect theinvention comtemplates the provision of a C-type clamp having anordinary screw type primary clamping member which may be brought intopressure engagement with an object to which the clamp is to be aflixed,and

having a novel and improved secondary pressure apply-' ing meanscomprising combined screw and lever means. Thus, after initial clampingengagement has been obtained by means of the primary clamping member,the combined screw and lever secondary clamping means is manipulated toapply a great clamping pressure so that the clamp and any accessoriessupported thereby are firmly and stably mounted.

While I am fully aware that clamps of this general type are old and wellknown in the art, the invention in the present instance resides in theprovision of a clamp having specific novel features of constructionwhich improve the operation of the clamp and permit of its being made oflight weight cross sections and of light weight materials, such asaluminum, for example. Thus, it will be understood that clamps of thisgeneral type, being capable of exerting great clamping forces, must havegreat strength in the highly stressed sections thereof. In the past,therefore, such clamps have been constructed of heavy materials, havingheavy cross sections at critical areas. Otherwise such clamps have beenineifective for the purpose intended.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a novel andimproved high strength clamp capable of exerting great clampingpressures, which combines characteristics of stability, light weight andhigh strength with characteristics of neatness and compactness,rendering the clamp ideally suited for general purpose home and shop usefor the quick attachment of lamps and other accessories.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a novelC-type accessory clamping attachment 2,896,896 Patented July 28, 19 59 2having the features above described which incorporates novel andimproved means for attaching accessory apparatus thereto.

The above and other objects of the invention will be come apparent uponfull consideration of the following detailed specification andaccompanying drawing wherein is disclosed a certain preferred embodimentof the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved clamp, illustrating themanner in which the same is employed for the attachment of lamps andother accessories;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the clamp of my invention;

Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the clamp of Figure2; and

Figure 4 is a section view taken generally along lines IVIV of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawing, and initially to Figure 3 thereof, thenumerals 10 and 11 designate the principal parts or components of mynovel C-clamp. The first mentioned member 10 comprises an invertedL-shaped member, which may be formed of die cast aluminum, for example.The upper or horizontal leg portion 12 of the clamp member 18 isprovided at its outer end portion with a downwardly facing clamping pador surface 13; and in accordance with the teachings of the invention thevertical leg portion 14 of the member 10 is of a hollow U-shaped crosssection, as indicated in Figure 4.

The second mentioned of the principal clamping parts 10 and 11 comprisesan L-shaped member which is generally of T-shaped cross sectionthroughout, as indicated in Figure 4, and which is provided at the outerend of its horizontal leg 15 with a bulbous portion 16 having a verticalthreaded bore therethrough. Received within the bore is an elongatedclamping screw 17, having a knurled operator 18 at its outer end and aswiveled clamping pad 19 at its upper end. The arrangement is such thatthe screw 17 may be adjusted to move the swiveled pad 19 toward theupper clamping pad 13 whereby to come into clamping engagement with anarticle positioned between the-two pads. This, of course, is the usualmanner of operating a conventional C-clamp.

As shown in Figure 3, the lower clamping part 11 is connected to theupper clamping part 10 by means of a pivot pin 20 which engages theupper end portion of the member 11 and the upper corner portion of theinverted such width as to closely fit between the opposed side walls ofthe U-shaped portion 14.

At the lower end of the vertical portion 14 there is provided a boss 22having a threaded bore therein for the reception of an adjusting screw23, the latter being provided with a knurled control knob 24 for easymanual manipulation. The adjusting screw 23 is arranged to engage theouter surface of the flange 21 so that upon inward movement of thescrew, for example, the lower clamping member 11 is urged away from orout of the channel defined by the U-shaped lower portion 14 of the upperclamping member 10. Of course, since the parts 10 and 11 are pivotallyinterconnected at the upper corner of the C, the horizontally extendingleg portions 12 and 15 of the clamping parts are caused to move togetherto exert a further clamping pressure upon an article previously clampedbetween the pads 13 and 19 through appropriate adjustment of screw 17.

It will be observed that the lever arm from the pivot pin 20 to thesecondary adjusting screw 23 is considerably longer than the lever armfrom the pin 20 to the clamping pad 13, so that there is substantialmultiplication of clamping forces. Moreover, it is contemplated that thescrew '23 will be of a finer pitch than the primary adjusting screw 17,so that an extremely high clamping force may be obtained 'uponmanipulation of the secondary screw 23. Thus, it will be understood thatthe primary adjusting screw 17 may have a relatively coarse pitch,permitting rapid movement of the pads 13 and 19 into clampingengagement. After a preliminary clamping engagement has been thusobtained the secondary fine pitch screw 23 is manipulated to effect thedesired firm clamping pressure.

In accordance with the preferred teachings of the invention, the exposedflange 25 is of such width as to extend from one outer surface to theother of the spaced side walls of the U-shaped section 14. Thus, asclearly shown in Figures 2 and 4, when the principal clamping parts 10and 11 are in their normal nested arrangement the inner or exposedflange substantially covers the open side of the U-shaped section,providing a neater appearing assembly, as well as preventing the entryof dirt and other foreign particles into the channel 14 to interferewith the proper smooth operation of the clamping parts.

Although my novel clamp may have other various uses and applications, itis primarily intended to be employed for the mounting of lamps,photographic equipment and the like. Thus, in accordance with theteachings of the invention there is provided along one side of the upperclamping part 10, adjacent the upper portion thereof, an attachmentclamping ring 26 which is preferably formed as an integral cast part ofthe upper clamping part 10. The clamping ring 26 defines a verticallydisposed tubular opening 26' which is adapted to closely receive anelongated tubular accessory part 27 which in the illustrated apparatusforms a standard or support for a lamp 28.

As shown in Figure 2, the clamping ring 26 is provided along one sidewith an enlarged boss 29 which is split radially of the tubular openingand which includes a threaded bore 30 adapted to receive a tighteningscrew 31.. The arrangement is such that when the tubular accessorysupport 27 is slidably inserted in the clamping ring 26 the tighteningscrew 31 may be manipulated to firmly grip the support 27 in anypre-adjusted vertical position, substantially in the manner shown inFigure 1.

It should be particularly noted that the innermost side wall portion ofthe tubular opening 26' is tangent with the vertical side wall portionof the clamping part It). This is an important feature of the inventionin that when the tubular support 27 is secured within the clamping ring26 the adjacent side wall portions of the support 27 and upper clampingpart 10 are in contact, so that the clamp serves as a steadying meansfor the support 27. In this manner, the assembly is rendered morestable, and thus more suitable for photographic work, for example; and,in addition, the clamping ring 26 is less subject to damage fromaccidental blows imparted to the elongated support 27.

It should thus be understood that I have carried out the several objectsof the invention. My improved 0- type clamping device, while not new inits broad aspects, incorporates several important features of noveltywhich render the clamp substantially more suitable for general use, andwhich provide a neater appearing, light weight and economical devicewhich is ideally suited for general use about the home, oflice orworkshop for supporting lamps, and other equipment.

that each of the parts may have a strong and substantial cross sectionto resist twisting and bending of the parts during the application ofhigh clamping pressures, while at the same time the assembly ismaintained neat and compact. Moreover, such construction permits of theuse of such light weight materials as aluminum, without material loss ofstrength.

As shown in Figure 2, the outer part has a U-shaped cross section withrelatively long leg or side wall portions 1 so that a high strengthcross section is aflorded; and

the inner part is of I, or preferably T cross section, arranged to nestcompactly within the U section of the other part. The T section ispreferred in that the outer flange portion serves to completely coverthe exposed outer leg portions of the U section to render the overallassembly neater in appearance, as well as to prevent the entry offoreign matter in the working assembly.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the coactionbetween the outer clamping part, of U-shaped cross section, and theclamping ring 26 formed integrally therewith. The arrangement is suchthat the tubular opening defined by the clamping ring is tangent withthe flat outer surface of the U-sectional clamping part so that suchsurface is operative to brace a tubular accessory support gripped withinthe clamping ring.

It will be readily apparent that my improved clamping device, althoughembodying a number of novel and advantageous features, is essentiallysimple in structure, and is adaptable to mass production manufacture bymeans of conventional die casting and machining operations.

It should be understood, however, that the embodiment hereinspecifically illustrated and described is intended to be representativeonly, as many changes may be made therein without departing from theclear teachings of the invention. Reference should therefore be had tothe following appended claim in determining the full scope of theinvention.

I claim:

In a C-type accessory clamp of the type having primary and secondaryclamp adjusting means the improvement comprising a first invertedL-shaped clamping part having a horizontally extending leg portion and adownwardly extending leg portion, said downwardly extending leg portionbeing of greater length than said horizontally extending leg portion andhaving an inwardly opening U-shaped cross section throughout its length,a second L-shaped clamping part having a horizontally extending legportion and an upwardly extending leg portion, said upwardly extendingleg portion being of longer length than said horizontally extending legportion of said second L-shaped member and having a generally T- shapedcross section throughout its length, said upwardly and downwardlyextending leg portions being adapted to fit in nesting relation with theexposed flange of said T-shaped cross section overlying the end portionsof said U-shaped cross section, a pivot pin pivotally interconnectingsaid L-shaped clamping parts, said pivot pin being adjacent the cornerof said first mentioned clamping part and pivotally supporting the endof said upwardly extending portion of said second mentioned L-shapedclamping part, said downwardly extending leg portion of said firstmentioned clamping part having a boss thereon adjacent the lower endthereof, an adjusting screw received in said boss and extending throughsaid downwardly extending leg portion and into engagement with saidupwardly extending leg portion whereby upon manipulation of saidadjusting screwsaid clamping partsare caused to pivot in a clampingdirection, said horizontal leg portion of one of said L-shaped clampingparts having an inwardly facing clamping pad thereon, said horizontalleg portion of the other of said L-shaped clamping parts hqvhm miartimmhlp. nnrimine nlamrai'nti nad thereon. the

clamping pad carried by said horizontally extending leg portion of saidfirst mentioned clamping part whereby there is substantialmultiplication of the clamping forces exerted upon tightening of saidadjusting screw, a clamping ring carried integrally with said firstmentioned clamping part along a side wall of said downwardly extendingportion, said clamping ring defining a tubular opening adjacent theouter surface of said side wall having its longitudinal axis parallelwith said side Wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

